I am proud to have been re-elected to represent you as your Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC).

I have lived in this area all my life, I went to school here and I was a director of the family business, Mountstevens Bakeries, for more than 20 years. At its peak, we had 93 shops and employed more than 1,300 people. I have been a magistrate in Bristol for 15 years, chairing the bench on adult, youth and family cases.

I was an independent member of Avon and Somerset Police Authority for two years and vice chair of the Independent Monitoring Board at Bristol Prison for four years.

I thoroughly understand the criminal justice system. During my time on the Police Authority, I learnt how to challenge and question aspects of policing, but obviously to listen.

This blog will be partly about my diary and the things I have coming up as well as my own views on things that might be happening in the area or in the policing and criminal justice landscape. It will also include blogs from other people maybe members of my team or partner organisations we work with on subjects that are topical or relate to policing and crime.

I cannot promise that it will get updated every week and if I haven’t posted anything for a while then you will know that it’s been an extra busy time but I will still be listening.

Police support volunteers undertake a variety of different roles and cover everything from helping with Community Speedwatch initiatives, to being a restorative justice facilitator to making sure the fleet vehicles run smoothly and are gleaming. There are 650 volunteers who support policing across Avon and Somerset – people who give up their time to help keep our police service running smoothly.

Stronger communities are safer communities. However, strong communities can only thrive if we continue to develop our relationships, working together as residents, local people and the police. Read more.

Effective policing relies on local people having confidence in the policing service they receive. With that we rightly expect police officers to demonstrate the highest levels of integrity in the service they provide.

Knife and serious violent crime is making national headlines following the spate of stabbings in London, which has resulted in multiple deaths and even more victims. Let's be clear, carrying a weapon in Avon and Somerset will not be tolerated.

Protecting victims of the crimes such as domestic and sexual abuse has long been important to her, and now in this new Plan protecting the most vulnerable is clearly stated as her top priority. By aiming to protect the most vulnerable from harm, Sue is setting a challenge for Avon and Somerset.

Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is happening and together we need to stop it before it starts. Sunday, March 18 marks the National Child Sexual Exploitation Awareness Day and over the past few weeks, I've been working with the police and partners to raise awareness of this terrible crime.

Thank you does not even come close to how grateful I, and undoubtedly the communities of Avon and Somerset, feel for the way our emergency services have helped Storm Emma come and pass as smoothly as possible these past few days.

I'm writing this week's column watching the snow settle thick and fast at Police and Fire HQ and having just seen that the Met Office have issued an official red weather alert. I cannot recall a time when it has been as cold, particularly in March.